Bedclothes-holder



(No Modl.)

H. O. THOMAS.

BEDULOTHES HOLDER.

11x 51,411. 0 3 Patented Oct 26, 1886 DZ NIK F N. PETERS, Phuwuuw n hur.Washiligwn. D. cv

-g1es to the gripping-jaw.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

HENRY O. THOMAS, OF FREMONT, NEBRASKA.

BEDCLOTHES-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,411, dated October26, 1886.

Application filed February ll, 1886. Serial No. 191,540.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. THOMAS, of Fremont, in the county of Dodgeand State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin BedclothesHolders; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to an improvement in bedclothes-holders.

The object is to provide a simple, efficient, and inexpensive device forholding bedclothes on the bed against displacement.

XVith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection of a bed, showing the coverings in position in the holder; Fig.2, aview in elevation of the foot-board, showing the holder appliedthereto. Fig. 3 is a modification.

A represents a panel of the foot-board, to which the base B of theholder is secured, or the base B might be secured to a beam orcross-slat, B, or to a standard, B, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2,)located at the foot or other part of the bed where it is desirable tohave the clothes held. The base B is conveniently secured to the panel Aor other support by screws Z; but it may be satisfactorily secured innumerous other ways.

To the base B is hinged a holding-jaw, C. The jaw G is preferably formedof a single bar of metal provided with two arms, 0, at right an- Theends of the arms are bent at right angles to the arms, to serve as thepintles of the hinges, the sockets of which are simply the eyes in apair of ordinary screw-eyes, eyebolts, or a pair of staples, as shown at0 On the pintles 0 of the jaw C is hinged a second jaw, G. The jaw O isprovided with a pair of arms, m, similar to the arms 0 of the jaw O, inthe ends of which are formed eyes m, through which the pintles c of thearms 0 extend. The arms on. are adapted to swing closely within the armsa as the jaws close. The jaws, with their arms, are preferably cast (Nomodel.)

of malleable iron, and one or both of the jaws is or are provided withknobs or project1ons m on its ends, which serve both as a finish andassist in giving the jaws an additional grip on the clothes.

A pair of locking pins or bars, D, are each provided with an elongatedeye, d, in one of their ends, which eyes are adapted to embrace the twoadjacent arms 0 and m of the gripping-jaws. The opposite ends of thearms 0 and m are provided with hooks d,wh1ch are adapted to engage pinsor lugs 0, formed integra-l with or rigidly secured to one of the jaws,O. \Vhen the locking-pins Dare swung at right angles to the jaws,withtheirhooks in the direction in which the inner jaw, O,opens, the jawsare free to open and admit the bedclothes. XVhen the latter are placedbetween the jaws, the pins 1) are swung back toward each other, actingas levers, the outer ends of the eyes (1 engaging the arms of the outeraw, G, and the opposite ends of the said eyes engaging .the arms of theinner jaw,G, and forcing the jaws toward each other. When the hooks dare slipped over the pins 0, the jaws are securely locked in position.

To prevent the cold air from gaining access to the feet of the personoccupying the bed,an apron or a shield, I, preferably of thick woolenfabric,is secured on the ends of one of theholding-jaws and extends downunder the end of the mattress. In the modification shown in Fig. 3 oneholding-jaw only is provided. It is formed of asingle piece of wire bentto form two end arms at right angles to the grippingj aw J, the latterbeing proj ected from the plane 'of the arms that it may gain a betterhold on the clothes by pressing them securely against a panel, A. Thisjaw is held in closed adjustment over the clothes by means of a pair oflocking-pins, D, one of which is at each end of holding-jaw O and ashort distance outside thereof. Their free ends are adapted to swingover the ends of the holding-j aws and lock un der a hook, K, set in thebase about midway between the ends of the holding-j aw.

It is evident that numerous slight changes in details of constructionmight be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention;hence I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to theexact construction shown and described, but consider myself at libertyto make such changes as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of myinven- Patent, is-

l. The combination, with an elongated base adapted to be rigidly securedto the bed at the foot thereof, and supports rigidly secured to saidbase, of a holder-jaw, a movable holder-jaw, substantially as described,having depending arms, the latter being pivoted to the supports, and abar engaging one of said arms for holding the movable jaw in closedadjustment, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bedclothes-holder, the combination, with a base, supportssecured thereto, and a pair of swinging jaws secured to said supports,of afoot shield or apron secured between the jaws, and means for holdingthe jaws closed.

3. In. a bedclothes-holder, the combination, with a base, supportssecured thereto, and a pair of swinging jaws secured to said supports,of a locking device adapted to engage both jaws and hold them in lockedposition, substantially as set forth.

4. The bedclothes-holder consisting, essentially, of a pair of jaws, onebeing hinged to the bed and the other being hinged to its mate, and apair of locking-bars loosely secured on the ends of the jaws,substantially as set forth. I

5 The combination, with a base, of a pair of jaws, one hinged to the bedand the other hinged to its mate, and a locking-barhaving an elongatedeye adapted to embrace the cone sponding parts of the two jaws and forceand hold them together, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereofI have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribingWitnesses. HENRY O. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

J. E. FRIOK, FRANK DOLEZAL.

